Apostasy#4: Outbreak

We open with Jack, the mercenary who is neither rebel nor Combine, as he remembers the events in his life of the past ten years: his family, the loss of his wife to a parasitic headcrab, surviving deadly antlions and the more recent death of his brother.

Jack shakes off his thoughts and continues on his mission to steal rockets from a Combine storehouse. He exits the sewers and keeps going.

Jack arrives at the Combine storehouse, spotting multiple dropships and Combine soldiers.

Meanwhile, in City 17, two Civil Protection officers are approaching Mark Meriwhether and Doctor Galena Noland. One of them tells Galena she is wanted for questioning at the Combine Overwatch Nexus and tells her to come peacefully. Mark tries to protest but one of the cops hits him with his stun stick.

One of the officers searches Galena and finds a key to a locker. Mark knows where they're taking her, being a cop himself, and refuses to let that happen.

Mark blacks out and goes into automatic mode, sweeping the legs of one of the cops, taking his gun and then shooting him through the head in such a way that his mask can't alert Overwatch. The other metro cop runs at him with his stun stick at the ready, but Mark grabs him, uses his own body weight to throw the cop to the ground and then executes him as he pleads for his life.

As Mark regains control of himself, Galena hugs him for saving her. Barney Calhoun comes out from the apartment and sees the mess Mark made. Mark isn't feeling too well, but Barney grabs him and tells him to come with him if he wants to live. Before she follows them, Galena picks up the key from the floor.

Mark states he doesn't feel so good and Galena asks Barney what's wrong with him. Barney deflects the question and says they have to go now if she doesn't want to die. As they carry off Mark in the rooftops, Barney explains they both work as Civil Protection, but he's also undercover for the Resistance and says he had to see if he could trust Mark. Galena asks so you drugged him. A dizzy Mark almost falls off the rooftop before Barney grabs him.

Barney explains he didn't drug Mark, just gave him some untainted water and that it helps you remember. Then, a girl sneaks up to him and puts a gun to his head, asking who they are, but Barney screams her name. She is Alyx Vance of the Resistance.

Alyx apologizes for holding Barney at gunpoint and introduces herself to Galena. Barney explains to her the situation and mentions the name Kleiner, to which Galena asks if he means Isaac Kleiner.

Meanwhile, on the edge of City 17, Jack is sneaking around the compound, wondering if he has some kind of death wish. He enters one of the warehouses.

Jack grabs an AK-47 automatic rifle from his bag and explores the warehouse, finally finding the supply crate of rockets. As he picks them up, however, he's spotted by a squad of Combine soldiers.

Jack jumps above the the supply crates as the Combine soldiers start firing at him. Jack grabs a grenade from his bag and tosses it at the soldiers.

Jack starts rushing through the waters outside the storehouse, firing at incoming soldiers along the way. He gets to the tunnels and considers delaying the soldiers there, but one of them tosses a grenade at him. Jack can't help but appreciate the irony as he runs away.

Jack manages to escape the blast radius of the grenade but is momentarily knocked out cold. The exit behind him has collapsed with the explosion, but he starts overhearing something mechanical approaching.

Jack is being hunted by manhacks, flying metallic devices with sawblades. He destroys a few with his rifle, defends himself against the next with the AK-47 and then hits it back, followed by shooting it. He casually walks away afterwards.

Back at Doctor Kleiner's secret lab in City 17, Galena is explaining her story to Alyx, who recognizes the man who gave Galena the key as Mikael. Alyx calls Doctor Kleiner and Galena walks away with him to explain everything.

Barney asks Alyx what's going on, but she replies he wouldn't believe her if she told him. Barney mentions he needs her to hit him so Overwatch doesn't suspect him and says he knows it might be hard, but she interrupts him with a good punch to the face. He reluctantly thanks her and she asks if he needs another, just as Doctor Kleiner tells her she needs to get to the locker tonight.

Later, near the train station, Alyx and Galena are sneaking their way in. Alyx helps Galena go over a fence but she falls. Alyx asks if she's okay and Galena replies she thinks so. Alyx then suggests she make her mistakes quieter next time.

Alyx and Galena carefully sneak their way inside the train station, keeping quiet and evading Civil Protection guards. Alyx tells Galena they have less than ten minutes before they come back through.

Alyx and Galena get into the train station, Galena asking Alyx what's in the locker. Alyx says she won't even pretend to know, just that it has something to do with Black Mesa and that Doctor Kleiner has been looking for it for a long time. Galena leads Alyx to the locker and she unlocks it, looking surprised when she sees the contents within.

Inside the locker are pieces of a grey and orange suit. It's the Hazardous Environment suit of Doctor Gordon Freeman, the icon of the Resistance. Alyx thanks God that the suit is still there and asks Galena for help putting it into suitcases. The issue ends. Next issue: Advent of Incursion.

Next comic:

#5: Advent of Incursion

1 thought on “#4: Outbreak”

Michael Andrei Palon

September 20, 2022

What a trooper, Barney. Also, dang, Alyx, did Barney do something to you a long while back?

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